Refusing to Remarry: Mr. Hawthorne, You Are Out-Chapter 57: They Make Their Own Karma, I Build My Own Virtue
After she finished speaking, Silas clearly noticed a long silence on the other end of the phone.
The first time you can coax someone to come around, the second time isn’t so easy...
But even so, Silas still wanted to give it his best shot.
After all, she really couldn’t bear to lose such a wonderful granddaughter-in-law!
Raine could sense what Silas was hinting at, but after counting the dates, today really was Grandpa Hawthorne’s memorial day.
If she went, she was bound to run into Jonas Hawthorne.
Not going wasn’t an option either.
Back then, Grandpa Hawthorne had long been ill and bedridden, hanging on to his last breath because he insisted on waiting for Raine to marry into the Hawthorne family before finally letting go.
He was terrified that if he died one day sooner, Jonas would have to observe three years of mourning and not marry...
Just for this kindness alone, Raine felt she had to go.
Sighing to herself, she agreed.
"Okay, I’ll be over in a bit."
Any grace you’ve received, you always have to repay somehow.
Silas was overjoyed on the phone, "That’s wonderful! Grandma will be waiting for you!"
She hung up quickly after that, not dragging it out at all, not wanting to make Raine uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, as Raine had just put down her phone, the gossip-loving Mason Sullivan leaned in curiously and asked, "Grandma Linton? Who’s that?"
"Jonas Hawthorne’s grandma," Raine replied.
"Oh..." Mason nodded first, then looked even more confused, "Wouldn’t she be called Grandma Hawthorne? Why Grandma Linton?"
Raine frowned, "That’s a long story..."
Mason waved his hands quickly, "Forget it then, the longer the story, the less I wanna hear it. So, she’s Jonas Hawthorne’s grandma—why does she need you?"
That part was what he was most interested in.
"It’s Grandpa Hawthorne’s memorial day—I have to go." Raine said, picking up her pace.
It was almost noon—if she drove there, she’d arrive before two.
Mason was stunned for a moment, then hurried after her, his face full of disbelief, "Wait, Jonas Hawthorne’s grandpa’s memorial day and you’re the one who has to go? Raine, you’re not their daughter-in-law anymore! If anyone should be going, it should be..." Candace Ford?
He wisely kept those last few words to himself.
Even so, Raine could more or less guess what he meant.
"I can’t control what anyone else does. I just know what I’m supposed to do."
Her tone was absolutely firm.
Just like when she took Candace to the hospital before—there wasn’t a right or wrong, only what she felt she ought to do.
Her father taught her from a young age to be decisive in business, never to show the enemy a hint of mercy.
Her mother, afraid she’d let that affect her too deeply, always told her to treat others kindly, that the most important thing in life was to keep your heart gentle and at peace.
Though she wasn’t as outstanding in business as her father, at any rate, she protected a patch of innocence deep in her heart just like her mother did.
Mason thought it over and agreed, but he was still worried for her, "But what if they try to bully you? Jonas Hawthorne’s just... messed up..."
"They can rack up their sins, I’ll rack up my karma." Raine tossed out the words, getting into the car first.
She didn’t know what others thought of her, but she had to be clear about what she was doing herself.
——
Sinclair Family.
Sharon Jennings was racking her brains about what kind of soup to make that afternoon, so her daughter could come home and nourish herself a bit at night.
Evan Sinclair, having just gotten off the phone with Easton Yancy, walked over to remind her, "No need to make soup today, our daughter’s headed to the Hawthorne ancestral hall."
"What’s she going there for? Didn’t we agree she’d have nothing to do with the Hawthorne family from now on?" Sharon Jennings shot up, visibly agitated, looking as if she’d drop everything and rush to protect her daughter the moment she heard anything amiss.
Evan saw her stand up and quickly waved for her to calm down, "It’s Derek Hawthorne’s memorial day. Did you forget?"
"..." Sharon froze, silent as she counted the days in her head, finally coming to her senses.
The sixth—so it really is.
Evan was quiet for a while before letting out a sigh, "The old man was actually very fond of our Raine—he wouldn’t let go until after Raine’s wedding. I reckon Raine remembers that kindness and that’s why she’s going."
Sharon nodded, thinking of her precious girl, and added, "Raine’s always been so gentle and well-behaved. She’d never brush off things like this. I just don’t get why God had to hand such a good child so much suffering!"
After saying that, the couple fell into silence.
Every parent aches for their child. What Raine’s gone through—divorcing, coming home with a kid—only her parents truly know how much it’s hurt her.
After some time, Evan added, "It’s fate. Whatever hardship she’s got coming, nobody else can bear it for her!"
"I know... but those Hawthornes, they really are unbelievable!" Sharon gritted her teeth, slapping the side of the sofa!
They say motherhood makes you tough.
Normally so gentle and delicate, when it came to anything about her daughter, she could charge right up to the front lines if she had to!
Evan’s brow furrowed too, "Jonas Hawthorne really is a bastard! But the older folks in the Hawthorne family—what I’ve seen, they’ve treated our daughter genuinely well. Just let her go this time, and from now on cut off all ties."
"But what if they bully our Raine again in the future?"
"Then don’t blame us for not being polite!" Evan suddenly squared his brows, his eyes flashing with murderous intent!
The Hawthorne family might be tough, but the Sinclair family wasn’t to be trifled with either!
If they kept bullying his daughter over and over again, Evan would risk the whole Sinclair family if he had to—he’d protect Raine no matter what!
Sharon felt a little more at ease after hearing that.
But just her husband’s support wasn’t enough.
Excusing herself to the bathroom, she called her own father, planning to bring in backup from her family.
William Jennings, on hearing his precious granddaughter was being bullied, instantly grew furious, "What? Do the Hawthornes really think the Jennings family doesn’t exist? Sharon, don’t worry, I’ll handle it—tomorrow, I’ll bring Raine’s three cousins and head to Sedonia to stand up for my granddaughter!"
"Thank you, Dad..." Only then did Sharon let out a long sigh of relief. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
The Jennings family was in the neighboring province, and quite prominent locally.
Sharon was the youngest, with four older brothers and three sisters.
She’d married Evan for love all those years ago, which was why she’d moved far out to Sedonia.
Over these years, Evan had always treated her well, so she’d never needed help from her family.
If it weren’t for the Hawthornes being so ruthless this time, Sharon wouldn’t have wanted to trouble her father with making the trip.
But now, with Dad coming over and Raine’s cousins too, no one would dare bully their Raine!
At that moment, Raine had just arrived at the Hawthorne ancestral hall and sneezed several times in a row.
"Achoo!!"
